Northbridge faces a tax increase ballot question concerning the proposed Department of Public Works facility on December 17.
At the December 4 Special Town Meeting, voters rejected a proposal for $3.1 million to purchase and renovate a building for use as a DPW facility.
Since then, however, a number of residents have contacted me and expressed confusion as to why there is now an election on December 17. The December 17 election was scheduled many weeks ago per a state statute time-frame requirement. Ballots have been printed and the polls will be open.
This election is to increase taxes via a Proposition 2 ½ exclusion by an unspecified dollar amount for the purpose of purchasing and renovating a building as a DPW facility. No one knows at this time what the dollar figure is and by how much their taxes will go up if this ballot question is approved. It is a blank check.
Town Meeting sets forth the project and dollar amount, while the election approves the funding and the tax increase. It makes sense therefore, that Town Meeting occur first and then the election.
Historically in Northbridge, if the proposal fails at Town Meeting then the election question is moot and meaningless. The Town Manager and Finance Committee Chairman were both correct in strongly articulating this in 2010 under a similar situation. Officials have, over and over again, rejected the notion of putting the cart (the election with an unknown dollar figure) ahead of the horse (Town Meeting) as such a maneuver while legal, is a political end run.
If the tax increase is approved on December 17, it would be unprecedented for the Town to entertain thoughts of scheduling another Special Town Meeting.
Good government depends upon good and consistent policy, issue to issue and year to year. We should resist trampling upon consistency, proper form and longstanding wisdom.
As one member of the Board of Selectmen, I commit to you that I will not support another Special Town Meeting on this issue.
Respectfully,
Jim Marzec
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Comments (9)
People, please stop this rant. I agree with Mr. Marzec that going to vote on an issue that didn't pass the 2/3 requirement at the Town Meeting makes no sense but trying to justify this argument by linking the DPW to the state of the US makes no sense. We pay property tax and that tax funds town expenses along with federal and state aid. The increase in food stamps usage has nothing to do with funding a DPW. The real argument is the town of Northbridge finding the best solution to build a DPW that meets the needs of the town at a fair price and us taxpayers stepping up to PAY MORE in tax to cover this expense. So call me slow, but how does the increase in food stamps or extreme Tea Party politics factor into building this?
Its The Economy!
'Food Stamps' is just one piece of the depressed Economy that many Americans and Senior's are living with every day, and trying to get through the day on an Economical note.
Our Town Leaders may need to come with a better or less expensive plan, some may say.
The vote on Monday 12/17/12, just adds to the cynacism many feel about government and their officials. I attended the town meeting and voted yes. The measure failed to get 2/3. To go ahead anyway after it failed gives cynics an excuse to say their vote at town meeting doesn't matter, the fix is in, etc. Let's bring it back at town meeting and offer a lower price for the building.
Why don't you obstructionist Republicans get on board and buy your new DPW building with food stamps? Stop the hate already it only loses you elections.
It
Could you make the blank check out to me? Seeing you have money to waste.
The reason more people are on food stamps is because the President gave incentives to states to put people on food stamps. He got names and his machine took those names and persuaded the people they would lose their food stamps if he lost the election......VOTES!
Take a look at the language in the sample ballot on the town's website. Mr. Marzec is exactly right, there is no monetary cap on the ballot, it literally is a blank check! This needs to be voted down.
P